PSA: Japan’s biggest ’00s RPG series, Monster Hunter, finally on iOS

The series that saved PSP in Japan lands on iOS as a years-old port.

For years, the Monster Hunter RPG series has served as a Japanese portable-gaming weathervane, determining which way the wind blew. The series' riotous sales on the PSP, including the platform's fastest-selling game of all time, pretty much saved Sony's beleaguered handheld in its home country, while Monster Hunter's shift to the Nintendo 3DS was (arguably) the biggest Japanese sales tide-turner a series has caused since Final Fantasy left Nintendo behind in the '90s.

The game's many iterations—which flip the Pokemon formula of "gotta catch 'em all" into a more brutal, giant-sword-fueled journey to kill 'em all—haven't done as well in the States, possibly because they have each come with years-long delays after their Japanese counterparts. In traditional Monster Hunter fashion, the series also took its sweet time reaching smartphones and tablets. Today marks its first-ever appearance on iOS.

Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, priced at $14.99 for both iPhone and iPad, doesn't crib from last year's Monster Hunter 3G release on 3DS; instead this is a port of the 2009 PSP game Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G, presumably because its wimpier 3D assets would run efficiently across iOS devices. The only changes involve MFi controller support, which includes a camera stick that the original didn't have, along with touch-screen controls. The latter function in a pinch, with touchscreen camera adjustability as well as context-sensitive buttons that appear during less-active scenes. Still, when you're getting into position, wielding giant weapons, and actively dodging huge monsters, you won't want to depend on a touchscreen control stick.

Also, just like the PSP original, multiplayer is limited to local WiFi. Other than that annoyance, Capcom has a pretty beastly game on offer for iOS adventurers, suited for quick-burst portable play. For many Americans, it's a chance to play a game that's wholly new to them, even if the source game is five years old.

Don't even bother picking this up if you don't plan on using a controller. I never had a problem with the single PSP stick in over 2000 hours of play spread across the 4 PSP games (I also played Portable 3rd, which never got an English release), because you could simply tap the L button to recenter the camera, but just the thought of attempting to play this game, which requires snap reaction times and precise directional and button input, makes me cringe in horror to the further damage they may do to the perception of their games in the West.

Considering how bad the controls were on PSP due to just one less analog stick, I shudder to think of what this game is like with touch screen buttons.

I really don't understand why the PSP only had one analog stick... Anyone know why?

The original PSP that released in what, 2005? Was so jam packed with shit that there simply wasn't room for a second stick on the right side. I opened plenty of them and that was the simple truth.

As the years went on and technology got better, of course, things changed, but then the issue of dividing the playerbase came up. You can't just add a major thing like a second stick halfway through a console life cycle, it doesn't work. Especially when your console is already struggling because of rampant piracy.

iOS is certainly keeping an incredible leap ahead of the competition in their game and App library, thanks to all the third-party developers giving the platform priority. By the time games like Oceanhorn, Hearthstone, Xcom Enemy Unknown, Colin McRae, Star Wars KOTOR and the many hundreds of other AAA titles make it to android (if they ever do, many don't) a whole new batch of old and new classics (& originals) show up on the Apple devices, often taking a year or more to make it over to android. As a gamer, I've searched long and hard for platform exclusive gems on Android and really haven't found anything at all to brag about.

It's not just games either, creative types have the plethora of professional level audio & music production, from companies like Korg, Roland, Native Instruments, Waldorf, etc -- most of which will never make it's way over to the "other side." -- I have a feeling if many of the Apple user basher's were really aware of all that sets the platform apart, they'd feel a bit foolish about their put downs. Apple needs to do more to get the word out on things like this, as the vast majority of android fans I've encountered really aren't aware of how much richer the software selection is on iOS.

Android definitely has Apple beat in that area, if you need the platform to be a fully functioning computer. I have my desktop systems (Which I often interface with via the pad) for server (or other tasks Linux/etc excels at) . I look at iOS as more of a gaming and media consumption & creation device, than a general purpose computer.

I never understood why Capcom always took its sweet time bringing them over, when they ever did. The Monster Hunters were some of the most-pirated PSP games when they weren't available, because people wanted them! It's not like twitch games or portable games do poorly here, or that they have a huge amount of story to translate.

I never understood why Capcom always took its sweet time bringing them over, when they ever did. The Monster Hunters were some of the most-pirated PSP games when they weren't available, because people wanted them! It's not like twitch games or portable games do poorly here, or that they have a huge amount of story to translate.

Because the first MH on PS2 reviewed TERRIBLY in America. Scores below 5 were common. Critics just didn't understand that it wasn't a hack and slash action game like DMC, I guess, because as time went on and the series continued, despite maintaining essentially the exact same gameplay, the review scores got higher and higher.

We did eventually get all the PSP games except for P3rd, which is understandable because the PSP was essentially dead by the time that game came out. And we've gotten the Wii U remake of Tri as well as the 3DS one. I don't understand why we have to wait more than a year for MH4, but...at least we're getting it.

Considering how bad the controls were on PSP due to just one less analog stick, I shudder to think of what this game is like with touch screen buttons.

I really don't understand why the PSP only had one analog stick... Anyone know why?

The original PSP that released in what, 2005? Was so jam packed with shit that there simply wasn't room for a second stick on the right side. I opened plenty of them and that was the simple truth.

As the years went on and technology got better, of course, things changed, but then the issue of dividing the playerbase came up. You can't just add a major thing like a second stick halfway through a console life cycle, it doesn't work. Especially when your console is already struggling because of rampant piracy.

PSP didn't suffer because of piracy, at least not anymore than the DS did given it was actually easier to pirate on the DS. I'm pretty sure the PS2 didn't "struggle" despite the rampant piracy on that platform as well.

Considering how bad the controls were on PSP due to just one less analog stick, I shudder to think of what this game is like with touch screen buttons.

I really don't understand why the PSP only had one analog stick... Anyone know why?

The original PSP that released in what, 2005? Was so jam packed with shit that there simply wasn't room for a second stick on the right side. I opened plenty of them and that was the simple truth.

As the years went on and technology got better, of course, things changed, but then the issue of dividing the playerbase came up. You can't just add a major thing like a second stick halfway through a console life cycle, it doesn't work. Especially when your console is already struggling because of rampant piracy.

PSP didn't suffer because of piracy, at least not anymore than the DS did given it was actually easier to pirate on the DS. I'm pretty sure the PS2 didn't "struggle" despite the rampant piracy on that platform as week.

You are so, so wrong. Anyone, anyone at all with a PSP could easily install CFW and begin to download games inside an hour, with no reliance on outside hardware. That's a really, really low barrier to entry. Both the DS and the PS2 required outside hardware or software, or both, if you were using an HDDLoader with PS2. And ALL flash carts required constant maintenance in the form of FW updates in order to play the newest games. While it was easy to PLAY the games you downloaded on those consoles, it surely wasn't as easy or as free as the PSP was.

The DS had a major issue with piracy, I'm not disputing that. But claiming it was as pervasive or destructive as the PSP's issues is ridiculous. You only have to look at the sales of either console as time went on to see that. The percentage of PSP owners using CFW was much, much higher than the percentage of DS owners with R4 or CycloDS carts.

Considering how bad the controls were on PSP due to just one less analog stick, I shudder to think of what this game is like with touch screen buttons.

I really don't understand why the PSP only had one analog stick... Anyone know why?

The original PSP that released in what, 2005? Was so jam packed with shit that there simply wasn't room for a second stick on the right side. I opened plenty of them and that was the simple truth.

As the years went on and technology got better, of course, things changed, but then the issue of dividing the playerbase came up. You can't just add a major thing like a second stick halfway through a console life cycle, it doesn't work. Especially when your console is already struggling because of rampant piracy.

PSP didn't suffer because of piracy, at least not anymore than the DS did given it was actually easier to pirate on the DS. I'm pretty sure the PS2 didn't "struggle" despite the rampant piracy on that platform as week.

You are so, so wrong. Anyone, anyone at all with a PSP could easily install CFW and begin to download games inside an hour, with no reliance on outside hardware. That's a really, really low barrier to entry. Both the DS and the PS2 required outside hardware or software, or both, if you were using an HDDLoader with PS2. And ALL flash carts required constant maintenance in the form of FW updates in order to play the newest games. While it was easy to PLAY the games you downloaded on those consoles, it surely wasn't as easy or as free as the PSP was.

The DS had a major issue with piracy, I'm not disputing that. But claiming it was as pervasive or destructive as the PSP's issues is ridiculous. You only have to look at the sales of either console as time went on to see that. The percentage of PSP owners using CFW was much, much higher than the percentage of DS owners with R4 or CycloDS carts.

Yep, and until the R4 came out it wasn't even that easy. It required Slot 2 flash cart along with a PassMe and were pretty expensive and could only be found Online or in Chinatown. I knew as a 15 year old kid I could never get my parents to buy me an R4 off some sketchy mod site but they'd have no idea I was downloading and flashing a custom firmware.

PSP v 1.00 was an open book too running any unsigned code, 1.50(Which launched with the PSP in NA) was relatively open just required a couple memory sticks. Most of the exploits could be done for free on later versions or required something that could easily be borrowed from a friend for a day(GTA:LCS, Pandora Battery, etc.). In my high school there was even a few dudes you could pay a small amount to install custom firmware for you, nobody was selling R4s though.

Android was faster to get Xcom than iOS was to get third-party keyboards. It's all about where your priorities lie. If gaming is your top priority, yes, the game library is currently best on iOS.[/quote]

Because you can't pirate a keyboard. Android is less attractive to anyone that wants to charge money for their apps, for obvious reasons.

Given how constrained I feel on a 3DS XL with the current MH3U, I'm not sure an iphone is going to be the best platform for the game.

I'm vaguely irate MH4 isn't coming to the WiiU, as that's were I've got well over a hundred hours played. (The rest of my time played is at the gaming shop, along with a few other meat-composed players; I've found players via the Internet, but they tend to be less patient with the newer players.) (Yes, 100 hours in, and I'm still a new player.)

Because you can't pirate a keyboard. Android is less attractive to anyone that wants to charge money for their apps, for obvious reasons.

Keyboards can easily be pirated; did you think they were all free? Besides, it's not hard to pirate on iOS if you know what you're doing. The "obvious reasons" have more to do with how Android apps work than how easy it is to pirate. Look at PC games - they're widely pirated and companies still release games for it.EDIT: These quotes, seriously, someone broke them.

iOS is certainly keeping an incredible leap ahead of the competition in their game and App library, thanks to all the third-party developers giving the platform priority. By the time games like Oceanhorn, Hearthstone, Xcom Enemy Unknown, Colin McRae, Star Wars KOTOR and the many hundreds of other AAA titles make it to android (if they ever do, many don't) a whole new batch of old and new classics (& originals) show up on the Apple devices, often taking a year or more to make it over to android. As a gamer, I've searched long and hard for platform exclusive gems on Android and really haven't found anything at all to brag about.

It's not just games either, creative types have the plethora of professional level audio & music production, from companies like Korg, Roland, Native Instruments, Waldorf, etc -- most of which will never make it's way over to the "other side." -- I have a feeling if many of the Apple user basher's were really aware of all that sets the platform apart, they'd feel a bit foolish about their put downs. Apple needs to do more to get the word out on things like this, as the vast majority of android fans I've encountered really aren't aware of how much richer the software selection is on iOS.

The fact that apple is so good at leveraging piracy fears among developers to ensure some avoid android is nothing to be proud of, especially when you consider that people still make money on android.

Seriously guys? There's some great insight about Monster Hunter as a series in the comments, surrounded by insecure guys puffing their chests about their platform of choice.

Can we just talk about the game?

Yes please! What do you think you will accomplish by defending your platform of choice? Most here on ars have a preference already that you won't change by stating the "openness" of Android or the fact that iOS gets "some" games earlier.

Anyway. I think its nice that they went with the all in one price (even though its 14.99) instead of micro-payments as it seems to be trend right now. The only negative i can find is that the graphics could/should be better at least on higher end devices.

Sam, multiplayer is actually online through Game Center, not restricted to local WiFi.

As for the controls, a recurring sentiments among MHFU veterans over in the TouchArcade thread is that the game controls considerably better on touch screen devices, thanks to improved camera control and contextual buttons. And that the controls work very nicely in general.

(The idea that complex action games are a bad fit for touch screen devices is not an absolute truth, but only applies to those who are not used to playing complex action games on tough screen devices. Many of those of us who do so regularly, often find well-made touch screen action games with smart UIs almost as easy to control as the button-based counterparts. Sometimes even equally so. And as long as the people who frequently play touch screen games have no problems with the controls in touch screen games, there is hope for the touch screen gaming paradigm )

I hope you Android fellas get this soon! Until then, you can at least revel in the knowledge that you got Star Realms before anyone else (last night), which is the one game that can bring me to MHFU-like levels of hype

Did I just seriously read someone trying to peddle the idea that touchscreen controls are just as good as a controller for a game with tight control/timing requirements?

I'm just confused who the idea is being peddled to. This is ars technica, surely everyone here is not so clueless as to actually buy that drivel?

As a longtime shmup player who purchased an iPod Touch several years ago specifically to play Cave's Dodonpachi, I'd say don't knock what you haven't tried. Touchscreens are responsive enough for shmups (requiring twitchy reflexes) and for music games (requiring precise timing), it doesn't seem like a stretch to suggest that they would work for an action game.

Also, at Ars, I expect that we can hold a civil discussion on these topics without insulting each other, thanks.

...but just the thought of attempting to play this game, which requires snap reaction times and precise directional and button input, makes me cringe in horror to the further damage they may do to the perception of their games in the West.

So let's get this straight: you put >2000 hours into PSP, zero into iOS, and you're making recommendations not to touch a game you haven't played, despite numerous reports that the game controls surprisingly well?

TouchArcade can be somewhat fanatical on the other side of the fence, but if there are MH players who have positive reports (there are) and if the game is burning up the Japanese appstore charts (it is) I think the game is worth a fair shake.

Android next please. I don't do Apple. This game is cool and I would buy it immediately.

well sir, first beat goigle with a stick so they mandate powerful hardware for all andriod phones.(meaning get rid of andriod phone/tablets that can't run "kit-kat")is the weakest(oldest andriod) as powerful as the ipad one?...is the most popular ipad/iphone as powerful as the most popular andriod?

further more how many andriod-er's are going to pay 15 dollars for an app?... how many andriod phones, on contract, cost less than this game?.

the Apple train (terms of total Graphics power) is gathering steam and is pulling out of the station (the metal api). yes the galaxy 5 is powerful enough, but if you need 100% of everybody who has a Galaxy 5, to pay for the port cost, it is not going to happen.

Apple suffered this effect with the iMac (and perhaps linux) compared to the Windows platform.are you going to write a game for the most popular platform?. yes?.apple in this case is the "windows platform". actually it is better than the windows platform, because 80% of the iPhones/ipad are running ios 7.

tl;dr... don't hold your breath for this game to appear on andriod. when the phone is cheaper than the game you have problems with piracy.

Seriously guys? There's some great insight about Monster Hunter as a series in the comments, surrounded by insecure guys puffing their chests about their platform of choice.

Can we just talk about the game?

Oh, even talking about the game, there are still platform wars to be had. Console vs handheld... Sony vs Nintendo.

"Insecure guys" can find something wrong with everything.

As an aside, of the fleshbags that I know who play MH, there are two males (one of whom is myself) and four females. And the "gals" are *far* more engaged in shit-talkery and vicious than either of us "guys".